EVALUATION OF SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL-ARTERY COMPROMISE AND LIMB GROWTH-RETARDATION AFTER TRANSFEMORAL ARTERY BALLOON DILATATIONS

Background Abnormalities of arterial pulse and limb growth after retro grade femoral arterial catheterization have been well documented. Howe ver, the magnitude of such complications after transfemoral artery bal loon dilatation has not been thoroughly investigated. This study sough t to evaluate the prevalence of these abnormalities in children who ha ve undergone transfemoral artery balloon dilatation. Methods and Resul ts Data on 43 consecutive patients (I day to 15.5 years old at the tim e of balloon dilatation) seen on followup (42+/-23 months) (group 1) w ere compared with those of 35 patients undergoing retrograde femoral a rterial catheterization (group 2) and 47 control patients. interventio nal ankle/control ankle blood pressure index (AAI), ratio of intervent ional/control lower limb length (LLI), and leg length difference (LLD) were measured. Ages and weights at study were similar in all three gr oups, as were the ages and weights at intervention and duration of fol low-up in groups 1 and 2. The AAI was lower (P=.023) in group 1 (0.95/-0.13) than in groups 2 (1.0+/-0.1) and 3 (1.01+/-0.09). The prevalen ce of subjects with AAI less than or equal to 0.9 was higher (P=.003) in group 1 than in the other two groups. The LLT and LLD were similar (P>.1) in all three groups. AAI and LLD in the balloon group are not s ignificantly associated with age and weight at intervention, duration of follow-up, or size of the balloon or balloon catheter shaft. Conclu sions Transfemoral artery balloon dilatation procedures produce superf icial femoral artery compromise, but there was no significant limb gro wth retardation at a 3.5-year mean follow-up, which may be related to development of collateral circulation. Study of a larger number of chi ldren at a longer follow-up interval may be necessary to further confi rm these observations.